* * *MUSASHI PADDLE ( ムサシ·パドル ) Musashi Paddle * * *

The 1959Musashi Paddle 360cc Coupé / Pickup Truck was manufactured in Tōkyō by a company which normally made 3-wheelers. The front engined 2-seater was simple in design with clean lines and was fitted with roof and side rails as standard.

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* * *NJ ( エン·ジェー ) NJ* * *

[ Nippon Jidōsha Co.]

( 1954 ) NJ号 ( NJ go)

Only 85 of the model NJ号 ( nj-go ) were produced. Being impressed by the MG logo in Britain, it was decided to call the car an NJ ( Nippon Jidōsha ).

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* * * N I K K E I T A R Ō ( ニッケイ·タロー ) Nikkei Tarō* * *

[ Nihon Jidōsha Co.]

( 1957 ) Nikkei Tarō

The Nikkei Tarō was previously called an ‘NJ’. It could be driven on a scooter licence, a big selling point at the time.

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* * *NŌBEL / NŌVEL ( ノーベル号 ) Nōberu * * *

[ Nōbel / Nōvel Automobile Co. Tōkyō ]

TheNōbel / Nōvel was named after ‘Dr.Yukawa‘ the first doctor to get the Nobel prize in Japan.

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* * *O R I E N T ( オリエント ) Orient* * *

The 1955Orient was made at Ōsaka in the Prefecture of the same name in the Kansai region of Japan. The shaft driven 3-wheeler 2-seater pickup truck with no doors was of simple design with handlebar steering and was very easy to drive.

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* * *P I L O T ( パイロット ) Pilot * * *

[ Yamamoto Manufacturing Co. Ltd.]

( 1954 ) Pilot 3-wheeler: ( air-cooled OHV single 220cc5.5hp)

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* * * R I G H T P O N Y ( ライト·ポニー ) Right Pony* * *

[ Koei Kōgyō Co. Ltd.]

( 1951 ) Right Pony: ( 1952 ) SV single 148cc:

( 1953 ) Right Pony: ( 1954 ) 200 cc:

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* * * ( スマート ) * * *

[ Daimler AG]

The 598cc Smart K

Smart offered a kei version of its Fortwo called the Smart K in Japan at Yanase dealerships from 2001-2004, with specially developed rear fenders, reduced tyre dimensions and track width, in order to conform to the current kei-car standards at the time.

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* * *S P A R K ( スパーク ) Spark* * *

[ Nippon Tokushu Togyō Co. Ltd.]

( 1954 ) Spark 3-wheeler: ( air-cooled SV single 249cc9.0hp )

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* * * SUMINOE( スミノエ ) Suminoe * * *

[ Suminoe Manufacturing]

Mr Katayama: ( aka Mr. K )

The ‘Flying Feather‘ was conceived by ‘Yutaka Katayama‘ and designed by ‘Ryuichi Tomiya‘ in the late 1940’s.

( 1955 ) Suminoe Flying Feather FF-2

Mr. Katayamahad a dream from childhood to build a very light weight car, mostly out of motorcycle parts. It was to have a combination of good performance and economy ( air-cooled, 12.5 HP, 2-cylinder ), rather like ‘agull in flight‘, hence the name,‘Flying Feather‘. It is the predecessor of the modern kei-car.

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* * * SUZULIGHT ( スズライト ) Suzulight * * *

[ Suzuki Motor Corporation]

( 1955 – 1969 ) Suzulight ‘S’ series

The 1955Suzulight Sedanwas the first production car to be made by Suzuki.

( 1964 – 1969 ) Suzulight Carry Generations 1 & 2

Suzulight Carry trucks & vans were the first to use the Carry name and are still in use today.

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* * *T A C H I H I ( タチひ ) Tachihi* * *

[ Tachihi Kōgyō Co. Ltd.]

( 1950 ) Tachihi TR6: ( SV single 148cc 3.1hp 3-passenger )

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* * *T A K E O K A ( タケオか ) Takeoka * * *

[ Takeoka Motor Industrial Art( タケオか 自動車 工芸 ) takeoka-jidōsha-kōgei ]

The Takeoka Abbey Type 1

The popularity of the Takeoka Abbey started with the rare 3-wheeler Abbey Type I. It was equipped with a 50cc Honda AB-07 engine and single headlight. The top speed was about 45 – 50 kph ( 28 – 31 mph). It had a motorcycle type handlebar with all the controls instead of a steering wheel and a speedometer was the only gauge.

It is available with either conventional round or handlebar steering. Some versions are fitted with electric motors. Prices start from ¥828,360 ( £5,400 ).

The TakeokaAbbey 3

The Takeoka Abbey 3 is a rare 4-wheel single – seater which appeared in Japan in 1986. It is fitted with a 50cc Honda AB19E engine. This sportier looking version has a top speed of 60 kph ( 37.2 mph ). The side windows are made of acrylic board and there is only one door on the right hand side. The body is made of plastic in order to save weight and costs. Its overall dimensions are 2,150 x 1,150 x 1,230 mm and it weighs 120 kgs ( 264.6 lbs ).

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* * *T E R U Y A N ( テルヤン ) Teruyan * * *

After 5 years of research, the 1954年 Teruyan SK-36Coupé / Pickup came to fruition. It was manufactured at Shinagawa-ku in Tōkyō. The 360cc Coupé weighed in at 350kgs and the power output was 13.6 ps @ 6,000 rpm. The suspension was coil sprung and the top speed was 80 kph ( 50 mph ).

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* * *T O Y O L I G H T ( トヨ·ライト ) Toyo Light * * *

[ Toyomotors Co. Ltd.]

( 1953 ) Toyo Light: ( air-cooled 2-stroke single 88.4cc3.0hp )

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* * *T U T E N ( ツーテン ) Tuten* * *

[ Aichi Toyomotor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.]

( 1954 ) Tuten 3-wheeler: ( air-cooled OHV single 208cc7.2hp )

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* * *( ヤマハ ) Yamaha* * *

[The Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.]

( 1997 ) Yamaha Ami ( YM Mobilemates ) Ferrari F40 !!

YM Mobilemates, a branch of the Yamaha Motor Company, announced the production of the Ami, with a Ferrari F40 inspired design. The Ami was actually a Daihatsu Opti variant with a dummy mid-engine design body. It came with the same engine as the Opti’s SOHC or DOHC 12-valve 55 bhp engine.